Mechanism for placing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture



@etc. 28 1924. 1,512,928

E. F. HATHAWAY ET AL MECHANISM FOR PLACING TUFT YARNS IN CARPET MANUFACTURE Filed March 14, i922 9 Sheets-Sheet l E. F. HATHAWAY ET AL MECHANISM FOR PLACING TUF'I YARNS IN CARPET MANUFACTURE 192.? 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eilad March 14,

E. HATHAWAY ET AL MECHANISM FOR PLACING TUFT YARNS IN CARPET MANUFACTURE Filed March 14, 192?; 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Get. 28 1924. 1,512,928

E. F. HATHAWAY ET AL MEGHANISM FOR PLACING TUFT YARNS IN CARPET MANUFACTURE Filed March 14, 1922 [06/717 F HHTHWH); wrun 57x5) E. F. HATHAWAY ET AL MECHANISM FOR PLACING .TUFT YARNS IN CARPET MANUFAGTURE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 F. HATHAWAY ET 1%..

MECHANISM FOR PLACING TUFT YARNS IN CARPET MANUFACTURE Filed March 14, 1922 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 E. F. HAYHAWAY ET AL MECHANISM FOR PLACING TUFT YARNS IN CARPET MANUFACTURE Filed March 14, 1922- 9 Sheets-Sheet E. F. HATHAWAY ET AL MECHANISM FOR PLACING TUFT YARNS IN CARPET MANUFACTURE Filed March 14 1922 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 @Wg ma v w. V m m E. F. HATHAWAY ET AL MECHANISM FOR PLACING TUFT YARNS IN CARPET MANUFACTURE m an I & 0 W 98 a an 9 p 1 5w 1d Math 14 Patented Oct. 28, 1924.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR F. HATHAWAY, OF WELLESLEY, AND WALTER IBIXBY, OF DORCHESTER,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO SHAWMUT ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF DOR- CHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANISM FOR PLACING 'I'UFT YARNS IN CARPET MANUFACTURE.

Appflieation filed March 14, 1922. Serial No. 543,589.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDGAR HATHA-\ WAY and VALTER BIXBY, citizens of the -United- States, and residents, respectively,

5 of VVellesley, in the county of Norfolk, and Dorchester, in the county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Im- Yarns in Carpet Manufacture, of which the 10 following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings is a specification,

like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to mechanism for placing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture through the tubes of a tube frame, such as employed in the manufacture of Axminster or, similar carpets or rugs, and particularly includes improved means for placing the 20 tuft yarns used in weaving such rugs in the separate tubes of the tube frame or pile thread guide employed in such looms.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, we-have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan View of the left hand end of the machine constituting the disclosed embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the right hand end thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the end of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of that end of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the drive end of the mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a central sectional elevation upon the line 6'6 of Fig. 1;

having the comb inserted with the teeth foremost, said views being in side elevation and in vertical section upon the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 respectively;

Fig. 9 is a .plan view broken away of a detail;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 7;

Figs. 11 and 12 are views in side elevation and vertical section respectively of the comb holder with a portion of the teeth omitted, the comb being inserted with its curved edge foremost;

'tached to the spool; .provement in Mechanism for Placing Tuft 'or spooling machine for the winding spools;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views of the comb holder Figs. 13 and 14 are'views of the comb holdershowing a modified support or sta;

tionary bar for the supplemental end combs; Fig. 15 is an end view of the tube frame wlth the lock clamp attached;

Flg. 16 is a rear elevation of a clamp at- Fig. 17 is a plan view of the setting frame holding the yarn;

Fig. 21 is an end view of, the same;

- Fig. 22 is a side elevation of one of the sliding needle-s with the support therefor in section;

Fig. 23 is an elevation of a detail showing the swivel knife;

Fig. 24 is a plan with parts in section showing the support for the swivel knife;

Fig. 25 is a View, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, of the bracket for supporting the spool at the middle thereof;

Fig. 26 is an end sectional view of the spool holder of the tubing machine at the left side; T

Fig. 26 is an end elevation of the spool holder bracket at the left side;

Fig. 27 is a side elevation of the short spool holder showing the position thereof when a longer spool is employed;

Fig. 28 is a similar view with a short spool in place;

Fig. 29 is an end sectional view of the spool holder at the right side;

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of the tube clamp for holding the tube frame in position;

'Fig. =31 is an end sectional view of the spool in the tube frame and the comb holder raised by its spring into normal position;

Fig. 32 is a plan view showing the adjustable bar or tube frame support;

Fig. 33 is a perspective view showing the right hand supplemental comb holding threads for the needles;

Fig. 34. is a vertical sectional view showing means for operating the front needle guides;

Fig. 35 is a side elevation of the spool releasing mechanism; V

Fig. 36 is an end view of a sliding needle guide with the corner cut away so as not to interfere with the yarn;

Fig. 37 is a vertical section showing the posit-ion of the needle after drawing the yarn into the tubes and the position for placing the spool in the tube frame;

Fig. 38 is a vertical section showing the position of the needle when starting back with the thread;

Fig. 39 is a vertical section showing the position of the needle about to enter the tube;

F'ig. 40 is a detail partly in section and partly in side elevation, of another feature of our invention; and

Fig. 41 is an end elevation of still another feature of our invention.

In performing wide work an extra long tube frame is customarily employed in conjunction with two, three or more spools of suitable length, the latter being serially arranged ina suitable holder attached to the tube frame so that after the yarns are threaded through the ,tubes the spools remain in the holder in the same relation as. heretofore and serve in effect as a single spool from which the yarns are fed simultaneously through the tubes when in the loom.

In threading the yarns in the case of a tube frame used for extra wide work. and

particularly where such tube frame is ,to

be supplied with yarns from a series of single spools, it is desirable to perform the tubing operation in a succession of operations, usually one threading operation for each spool. That is to say, in the case of a tube frame requiring three spools of ordinary length arranged in a series, the threading of the yarns is best performed by first threading all the yarns of one spool simultaneously through the tubes, then the yarns of the next spool, and finally the yarns of the third-spool, the spools being then looked together upon the tube frame so that they may turn as a unit.

t In the form of the invention herein described, there is provided a tubing machine having devices for supporting a tube frame of the maximum length used for wide work so arranged that successive sections of the tube frame which are to be associated with successive spools may be successively placed in operative relation to a series or bank of needles, the needle bank being of lesser width than the length of the. entire tube frame, but the needles being suflicient in number to draw at one threading all the yarns on any one spool of the series which is employed. When any given section ofthe tube frame is placed in operative'relation to the needles, a spool, the yarn ofwhich is to' be used to fill that particular section of the then be removed from the holder of the ma chine and placed in-its holder in the tube frame, the latter shifted with relation to a the needles and the operation repeated with the next spool, and so on until all the yarns of the several spools of the series have been threaded.

Referring to the drawings and particularly Figs. 2, 15, 16, 30, 31, 32 and 337 to 39,.

we have there shown a tube frame intended for wide work. This comprises the metallic tubes 1 supported on the frame 2, the latter being provided at each end with spring clips 2'? (Fig. 2) for holding the outer pintles of the endspools. Each such frame-accommodates one or more spools depending on the width of the rug and the fancy of the manufacturer. frame 2 is shown 'as of a length requiring three or more spools 3, these being supported after the tubing operation, as usual in the clips 2 and in the intermediate brackets, the latter shown in detail in Figs. 15 and 16.

As shown in said Figs. 15 and 16 each of said intermediate brackets comprises a split journalled support 6 in which the pintles of adjoining spools rest. tion 7 of said journalled support is pivoted or hinged at 8 so that it can be lifted and the spool inserted or withdrawn. A separate clip 9'herein constitutes means for fasten ing said hinged portion 7 to the fixed part 6 when a spool or spools are in lace. At each end of the tube frame 2 a tension spring 4 is provided secured to the front face of said frame "and bearing against the spool head, thus tending to keep the spool from turning (Fig. 2). V

Preferably the end faces of the spool pintles have a clutch-shaped form whereby adjacent pintles may be fitted together thus locking the spools so that they will turn as a unit but permitting the spools to be separately inserted in or withdrawn from the tube frame as described in Patent #1,213,216

to Charles Lea, dated January 23, 1917.

In some instances the spools are not In the present instance the tube The upper porformed with the clutch portion on the ends of the pintles, said ends being left plain thus allowing each spool to turn independently of adjacent spools. In this case the yarn is drawn through the tubes and the ends of the yarns sheared off for example, as is explained in Patent #1,153,865 to Hathaway and Lea, dated September 14, 1915, the successive spools being removed from the spooliholders of the tubing machine .(herein members, 95 .and 96) and placed in the-spool supports upon the frame after such 'ith interlocked spools, however, it is necessary to perform the shearing operation after the spool has been removed from the spool holders in the tubing machine and placed in the supports therefor in the tube frame in order to make theends of yarn of all the spools of uniform length. This is due to the fact that with such interlocking spools it may be necessary to give a spool aportion of a turn after removing it from the spool holders of the machine in order to engage it with a spool previously positioned in the tube frame. Such turning would disturb the alignment of yarn ends.

In the resent instance, to avoid said difficulty wien employing interlocked spoolsi we preferably perform the threading an shearingof the yarns of each spool in two steps or operations of the machine for each spool. Therefore, instead of allowing the needles to be entirely retracted and the yarn ends sheared as a continuous operation, the machine is automatically stopped after the yarn has been drawn into the tubes but is still engaged with the needles. Said stopping is effected by an additional stop pin 49 which moves arm 50 (Figs. 2 and 5 to throw out the clutch as later explaine in detail. The operator then removes the threaded unsheared spool from the spool holders of the machine and places it in its support upon the tube frame. A look or clam described in detail hereinafter is then attac led to the spool head and prevents the spool from turning. With the threaded spool thus positioned in the tube frame the machine is again started and shears the ends of yarn, after the needles have entirely retracted and Withdrawn from the yarn. The machine then again stops automatically a in said Patent #1,153,865, ready for threadin the next spool.

when spools with plain pintles and not interlocked are employed the machine obviously will operate faster if it is not stopped prior to the shearing operation. In such case, therefore, there is no additional automatic stop pin 49 for dividing the opera tion into two steps and also there is no need of a lock or clamp attached to the spools.

Preparatory to the tubing pperation the yarns are wound upon each spool by means of a set frame or spooling machine. We will now describe the preparation of the tuft yarns in such spooling machine and prior to installation of the spools in the tubing machine. In this connection means i provided whereby the yarns after being wound upon a spool in the spooling machine are held separated, in which condition they may be placed in the tubing machine so that they may be readily and accurately drawn. through the tubes of the tube frame.

Referring to Figs. 17 to 20 inclusivesuch separating device herein comprises a transfer or aligning comb 10 preferably formed of sheet metal and having along one edge a series of upright barbed teeth 11. The other edge of said comb opposite to that having the teeth is formed with a turned over portion 11 (Figs. 21 and 21 Said transfer comb is so placed in the spoolin machine with relation'to the tuft yarns t at, after the latter have been wound upon the spool, said comb maybe applied to the yarns, indicated at 12, which are placed between the teeth 11 as indicated by dotted lines at 12 in Fig. 20.

For the purpose of illustration 2. common type of spooling machine 13 is indicated in said Figs. 17 to 20, said machine being provided with mechanism for receiving a spool 14. and an idle roll 14, andfor winding tuft yarns about said spool in a well-known manner. During such '0 eratio-n the yarns unwind from bobbins, or'separator is provided having upri ht offset pegs 16 or the like for sup ortmg the individual yarns or strands as t ey pass to the spools.

As best seen in Fig. 20 it will be noted that said pegs 16 of the reed are ofi'set near not shown), and a med the bottom thereof, in such manner that the yarns 12" in following down between the pegs are pushed sideways into the comb 10 past the barbs of the teeth 11 thereof. The pegs to the left of the center of the reed are offset to the left. andthose to the right of the center are offset to the right as clearly appears in Fig. 18. spool is narrower than the comb, the teeth of which must correspond exactly in distance from tooth to tooth with the distance between the tubes 1 of the tube frame 2.in order that the yarn may be positioned exactly for the threading operation. By offsetting the pegs 16 as shown, the yarns pass through the top or narrow part of the reed and on to the spool uniformly spaced and without danger of running off the edge of the spool.

The transfer 0011110 10 is supported for the spooling operation with its teeth upright by means of a suitable comb holder 17 of the spooling machine, positioned immediately below the tuft yarns at the point where the latter leave the reed in such manner that when said comb and reed are elevated together the strands of yarn are guided by the pegs 16 and pass exactly between the teeth of said comb. Said comb holder 17 of the spooling machine consists of a cross bar provided with two or more studs 18 having a sliding fit in vertical slots 19 in the frame As herein shown the;

' into contact with the yarn.

For raising said comb holder 17- and reed I cam levers 21 .are'provided each pivoted at 22 upon the frame of the spooling machme and connected. together by. a link 23 to which is attached a transverse rod 24, one

on each side of the machine, at least one of said rods 24 having a handle 25. The lowerv surface of said comb holder 17 of the. spooling machine rests upon said cam levers in out relatively to the support 27 to vary the lengths of the ends of yarn in accordance with'the requirements of the operator. Any other suitable mechanism may be employed for this purpose.

Properly to align the tubes 1 in that section of the tube, frame'which opposes the threading needles suitable stops are provided. At the left 'end of said support (see 1) there is fixed a stop 35 adapted to receive the left end of the tube frame in which position the right end: of said tube frame is placed approximately in the correct such manner that when the levers-are rocked\ position for threading the right hand end through movement of an operating rod 24 the comb' holder 17 and reed are together 7 lifted into the position indicated in part by dotted lines (Fig. 19). The holder 17 and reed are held in said lifted position by stop pins 26 upon the machine frame against which the cam levers rest just, after passing beyond their vertical position. Shifting of the operating rods 24 by the handle 25 in the opposite direction restores the cam levers to their original or full line position allowing the reed and comb holder 17 to drop 'by their own weight or they may be pushed down if necessary by the operator.

After the comb lO'has been threaded it is then withdrawn from the comb holder 17 of the spooling machine and is temporarily attached to the spool in any suitable manner as shown, for example, in the patent to Lea 1,213,216 above mentioned. In this condition the spools may. be stored in 'quantity and used at the tubing machine as required. The comb shown herein is of the barbed tooth type which retains the yarn between the teeth thereof without the necessity of a cap'or other yarn retainer.

Referring now to the tubing or threading machine proper and more particularly to the means for supporting the tube frame 2 therein the latter is carried by a tube frame support 27 preferably of a width suflicient to afford support to said tube frame in the several successive positions of the latter while in the tubing machine. To this end said support 27 is carried upon the upright frame members 30 and projects at either side for a considerable distance beyond the machine frame (see Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive). Said support 27 is braced by compression members 31, one at each .end of the support or first spool, looking in the direction. of Figs. 1 to 4. j

The tube frame 2 is forcibly clamped in Fig. 37) to bearings 43 provided on a hori- 'zontally extending bar 44.

Said bar 44 is grooved or notched upon its lower surface, being provided with teeth out to the same pitch or spacing as the tubes 1 of 'the tube frame, as clearly shown in perspective in Fig. 30. Projecting hand levers 45 are provided upon. shaft 39 for rockingthe same thereby to force said bar 44 downwardly causing the downwardly projecting teeth thereon to enter and fit the space between the tubes, .thus aligning the tube frame in an operative relation to the needles and forcibly clamping it in position.

It will he notedthat said arms 41 for supporting the bar 44 are positioned at Herein for the purpose an arch 36 connected with vertical arms 41 Y "fastened attheir lower ends by pins42 (see about one-fourth of the distance in from eac end of said bar in order to distribute the pressure more evenly upon the tubes instead of applying said pressure merely on the ends of the bar 44. Said bar 44 thus holds the tubes and tube frame in position for the needles to enter during the threading process.

In order or notched bar 44 endwise to place it in the exact desired'position we herein provide a block 46 at each end of said bar. Each of said blocks is formed with a longitudinal slot 47, (Figs. 1, 2 and 30) through which passes a screw for boltingthe block to the bar in the desired position of adjustment. The Slde or end face of each of said blocks rest against bearings 48 upon the frame of the tubing machine, one at.

each side of the machine thus preventing delicately to adjust said grooved j said bar 44 from shifting endw ise and keeping it in perfect alignment for the,needles to enter the tubes.

In performing the tubing operation the tube frame 2 is placed in the machine upon the support 27 with that section of the tubes through which it is desired to pass the yarns from the first spool in alignment with the needles. The drawing-in may be started at either end of the tube frame but herein we have represented the operation as being carried out by first threading the tubes at the right hand end section of the tube frame as viewed in Figs. 1 to 4. The left end of the tube frame is aocordingl posi tioned against stop (Fig. 1), t e left hand and intermediate sections of the tube frame (not fully shown in Figs. 1 to 4: for the sake of clearness) overhanging and projecting along the support 27 beyond the left hand side of the machine.

With this position of the tube frame a spool is placed in the spool holders of the tubing machine (herein members 95 and 96, more fully described later) and the threading operation is erformed substantially as described in said atent #1,153,865 with the exception that the machine is stopped in the osition indicated in Fig. 37 after the needles have come forward and engaged the yarn as shown in Fig. 38 and have then retracted to a position with their ends just out of or to the rear of the tubes. Said stop-ping is effected by means of a pin 49 (Fig. 2) engaging and lifting a lever 50 and unclutching the main drive shaft in a manner described later more fully. With the needles in this partially retracted position (Fig. 37) the spool is taken out from said spool holders of the tubing machine and is placed in the spool supports upon the tube frame 2 and a clamp 50 (Figs. 15 and 16) is attached to the spool head to prevent the spool from turning.

Such a clamp 50' is shown in attached position in Figures 15 and 16 in which position it holds the spools 3 from rotating when the tubing machine is again started and the needles further withdrawn beyond the position indicated in Fig. 37 and the shearing of the ends of the yarn effected, which operations will later be explained more fully. Said clamp 50 is provided with a tongue 51 which fits under the spool support or bracket 6 upon the tube frame 2 and also has a yoke portion carrying two screws 52 provided with ferrules 52' at their lower extremity which fit the spool heads, one of said ferrules seating upon the first positioned spool and the other upon the head of the next adjacent and subsequently positioned spool.

After said clamp 50 has been attached, the tubing machine is again started and the yarn is withdrawn from the needles by the further retreat of said needles beyond the position shown in Fig. 37. The ends of the yarn are then sheared off by means of a movable knife 53 and cooperating stationary knife 54 (see Figs. 6 and 37 all of which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The first or right hand spool having thus been threaded and left positioned in the tube frame said tube frame is then unclamped by moving the handle 4.5 to release bar 44. The tube frame is then moved along the support 27 and herein toward the right, carrying with it said first s 001 whose yarns have been drawn in and s eared, until an adjacent or intermediate section of the tubes upon said frame is brought into registration with the needles. Such registration is accomplished by means of a stop- 55 (Fig. 2) pivotally supported upon the tube frame support 27 by means of pin 56 and held in the path of the frame by spring 57 but prevented from protruding too far outside of said support by means of a stop 58 upon said support.

The tube frame is then clamped in said new position by downward movement of the grooved bar 44 and the operation is repeated with reference to a second spool which in turn is first placed in the spool holders of the tubing machine, the yarns drawn in and the spool then placed in the second pair of spool supports upon the tube frame moving'from right to left thereof as viewed in the figures. During the threading of said second spool the section of the tube frame at the right end thereof which has already been threaded rests upon that portion of the support 27 which rojects at the right end of the machine. ,Fig. 2 a portion of the first threaded or right end spool is shown.

After the threading of said second spool is completed, which also preferably takes place in two steps as described in connection with the first spool, the tube frame is again unclamped and shifted to the right, being relocated by another intermediate stop similar to stop 55 or if this is the last or left end spool by means of stop 59 (Fig. 2) so positioned that when the right end of the tube frame abuts said stop 59 the unthreaded left hand section of tubes is brought into proper alignment with the needles, in which position the threading operation is repeated. The individual tub-' ing operations for the various spools and the mechanism for performing the same are substantially the same as described in Patent #1,153,865 above mentioned.

Referring more particularly to the detail of the needles and associated mechanism it will be understood that a needle 60 is provided for each tube of any one section of the tube frame which is simultaneously threaded, as clearly appearsin Figs. 1 and is fixedly secured at its rear end in a cross I bar 62 adapted to slide throu%h bar 61. itself secured at each end to a slide guide ways u on the machine frame. aclr of said slide bars 62 is provided upon its lower surface with rack teeth 63 (Fig. 6) which mesh with gears 64 secured upon the operating shaft 65. i

Said operating shaft 65 is rovided wlth' a pinion 66 on one end thereo (Figs. 1 and 3; which meshes with a segmental gear 6 carried by a lever arm 68 pivoted upon the tubing machine frame at 69 and having at its rear end a cam roll 70 which engages a track cam 71. Said cam 71 is secured upon a counter shaft 72 and is provided,

upon its outer circular peripher with gear teeth 73 meshin with a pinion 4 upon the main drive-shaft 75, Power is applied to said shaft .75 through suitable clutch and pulley mechanism (Fig. 2) and through the above described gearing causes the needles to advance and retract, the cam. 71 being so shaped as to caiise a complete reciprocatory movement of the entire bank of needles for each revolution of said cam.

The power may be applied to the main shaft 75 by the operator at will through said clutch and pulley devices which are similar to those described in said Patent #1,153,865. As shown herein the mam drive shaft 75 is provided at its outer right hand end with a hand wheel 200 for turnin the same by hand to provide for the manua operation of the machine. Said shaft 75 is also provided with a driving pulley 201 mounted thereon and to which power loosely may e applied from any suitable source 4 through a belt.

Any suitable form of clutch is provided to cooperate with said driving pulley 201 and hereinthere is fixed upon the driving shaft in position to cooperate with said pulley 201 a split internal expanding ring clutch member of the well-known type having a wedging member adapted to be moved into positlon to clutch the pulley 201 to said ring member by longitudinal movement of a tapered expanding member 202. The latter is slidabl mounted upon the driving shaft 75 at t e side'of the pulley and is adapted to be moved lengthwise the shaft by the yoke 203 which is provided with pins 204 engaging a circumferential roove 205 in said expanding member 202.

en said yoke 203 is rocked by means of the horizontal rock shaft 206 which extends from front to rear of the machine and is supported in suitable journals 207 upon the machine frame, it serves to slide the expanding member 202 thereby to grip the internalexpanding ring to the driving pulley 201.

To rock said yoke 203 there is provided an operating lever, 208 fixed to said rock Means is herein provided whereby if the hand lever is ,not moved the machine will automatically throw out the clutch on complction of the retractile movement of the needles. To this end the rock shaft 206 at its rear end is provided with-an arm 50 already mentioned which carries a small frame piece 210, the latter serving as a holder for a catch 211 which when the clutch is thrown in lies within the path of a stop pin 49 projecting from the face of the ad acent cam 120 (see Fig. 2). Justbefore the cam; shaft 72 has turned fully to retract the needles said catch is engaged by said pin 49 and lifted. The catch, however, is carried by a block 212 having a sliding movement in a slot 213 formed in said frame 210 so that the block moves upward, then contact with the end 'of the slot, lifts the arm 50 thereby giving a slight turning movement to the rock shaft 206.

Said turning movement is sufiicient to loosen the frictional hold of the expanding member 202 and thereupon the spring 214 secured at its upper end to an arm 215 projecting from the tube frame support 27 and at its lower end to a lever arm 216 fixed upon the rock shaft 206 will throw the clutch completely out of engagement as the needles reach their rearmost position. Said lever 216 is provided at its outer end with a spring pressed catch 217 which when the clutch is thrown in is adapted to engage in a suitable notch 218 upon the machine frame to hold the clutch in said position. For the purpose of stopping the machine with the needles in the position shown in Fig. 37, and in order to divide the threading operation into two steps as is desirable when interlocked spools are employed, the additional stop pin 49, already mentioned, is provided upon the cam 120, and cooperates to move arm 50 in a manner similar to that of pin 49.

In order to stop the machine from over running due to the momentum thereof when the clutch is thrown out the driving shaft 75 is also provided with a brake drum 218 which is encircled by a brake band 219 held stationary at one end and at its opposite end secured to a block 220 which latter is fixed to an arm 221 keyed or otherwise fixed I to the rock shaft 206. When said rock shaft is turned to throw in the clutch said brake band is released, and when turned to throw out the clutch the brake band is applied.

For maintaining the proper separation of and guiding the needles there is provided a sliding guide bar 76 best seen in Figs. .5 and 6.

Said guide bar is supported at its opposite ends by slide rods 77 and during'a portion of the movement of the needles iscaused to advance withthe needles and at another time the needles are caused tomove relatively to said guide bar. As the needles 60 advance said guide bar 76 and slide rods 77 advance with the needles due to the fries tional engagement between the needles and Said frictional engagement the guide bar. we have increased by the provision of ball detents 7 8 adapted to seat in notches in said slide rods 77 and pressed upon by'springs 79 (see Fi 5). The guide bar 76 thus advances wit the needles until the hooks of the needles have entered the tubes and the guide bar substantially abuts the ends of said tubes.

The guide bar 76 is prevented from'hit ting the rear ends of the tubes 2 by means of collars 80 fixed upon the rods 77 near the rear end thereof and which bring up against the right hand face of stationary sleeves 80 formed in lorack'ets'SO upon the machine frame". Thereupon the sliding guide bar. 76 remains stationary and l the needles 60 advance relatively thereto and through the tubes into the position indicated by dotted linesin. Fig.6. I v

On retraction, the needles and the guide bar76 are moved rearwardly together due jto the frictional engagement of the needles with said guide bar, said simultaneous rearward movement continuing until'an adjustable collar 81 upon each slide rod 77 strikes the left face of said stationary sleeves 80*.

. Thereon rearward movement of the guide bar 76 is halted while the needles "retract still further and relatively to said guide bar into their former position, as Shown in full lines in Figs. 5; and 6. Said guide bar 76 preferably has at each'end a cutaway portion as shown1at'mlin.-Fig- 36 so as not to disturb the yarns which may. havebeen already drawn .by previous threading opera tions when the bart is moved forward into close proximity to the tubes.

As broadly disclosed in said Patent 1,153,- 865, means is provided at the outer or forwardends of the tubes, between the tubes and the yarns, for guiding and aligning the needles as they emerge from the larger or outer ends of said tubes. Herein said means includes a notched or grooved guide bar. 82. We have herein improved the construction and manner of operating said guide bar to insure guiding of the needles up to the time is normally held in raised position=out of the path of the needles by ineans of springs 84 secured, as by screws, to said'bar one at each end thereof. The outer endsof said springs rest upon said guide bearings 48, as clearly appears in dotted lines in Fig ures 3 and 4.

Attached to each end of said guide bar 82 for vertical movement therewith is a bolt 85 (see Fig. 34) engaging at its upper end a cam lever 86 pivoted at 87 upon the arms 41 which support the grooved clamping bar 44. Said levers 86 are adapted to be moved by adjustable plates 88 attached to the bar 89 which carries the movable knife 53, said plates engaging said levers 86 when said knife bar 89 is in its uppermost position.

Said. bolts 85 are thus moved downwardly carrying with them the attached guide bar .14. A forwardly protruding lip 82 extends the entire length of the bar and is provided with grooves 82 which guide the needles and separate them, .thus spacing them evenly and so holding them until the needles have passed through between'the separate strands of the yarn. Said lip 82 extends forwardly underthe holder 107 which holds the transfer co'mb 10 in the tubin machine, and is sufliciently narr'ow'vertic ly to permit said comb holder 107 tobe positionedvery closely above the needles.

As the needles 60 advance and are about to emerge from the large ends of the tubes the plates 88 upon the knife bar 89 engage the cam levers 86 and depress the vertically movable guide bar 82 into the position incli- 'cated; by dotted lines in Fig. 34. Said guide bar'82 engages with the needles as they emerge from the tubes and wedges any of the needles that may be out of alignment into the required position. As the needles retract and said knife bar 89 descends springs 84 return said guide bar 82 toits normal position above and out of the path of the needles.

Means isprovided for delicately adjusting the guide bar 82 including blocks 91 having slots 92 which receive bolts for adjustably securing said blocks to the guide bar 82 (see Fig. 4) in a manner similar to that in which the adjustment blocks 47 are 82 thereby to guide the needles during the secured to the g bar I v pressed towards the inserted spool by means described. 1

Referring again to. the needles ahd' sup-" porting mechanism therefor it1s noted that we haveprovided means for allowing a few needles'at each end ofthe bank of needles to 'yieldbackwardly against springs which normally hold them in position in alignment with the remaining needles of the bank. "Sometimes a spool head of a spool which has been previously threaded will lie directlyin the path of such end needles.

By permitting said end needles to yield .we'

prevent them from'breaking but still effect the threading of said end needles and the. end tubes, preferably with the aid-of supplemental end combs described in detail later.

In Fig. '22 we have shown the cross bar 61 which supports the needles, said bar at each end being provided with a rearwardly projecting rod 93 supporting for sliding movement a block 94 to which said end needles are attached. Said block 94 and its needles are normally held in forward position by means of a coil spring 93 (see also Figs. 1 and 2).

After each drawing in operation, herein comprising two steps, a fresh spool is placed in the spool holders of the tubing machine (herein members 95 and 96) and the operation is repeated until the tube frame has been completely threaded and filled with spools. Said spool holders of the tubing machine are substantially of the same construction as shown in the Patent #1,191,109' In.

to Charles Lea, dated July 11, 1916. the present instance, however, we have provided means .for holding various lengths of spools or spools having different diameter of head, or both, and will now describe-the same. v v Suitably positioned-upon the tubing machine frame and at the front thereof is a pair of opposed cup-shaped holders 95 and 96 each adapted to receive one end of a spool during the first portion or step ofthe threading operation. Said spool holders 95 and 96 of the tubing machine are carried by brackets 97 and 98 at the left and right sides respectively of the machine and attached to the end side of the tube frame support 27 (see particularly Figs. 3 to 6, 26, 26- and 29).

Each of said holders 95 and 96 is provided with gear teeth meshing with pinions 99 and 100 respectively, carried upon the opposite ends of the common shaft 101. .A spool may'thus be turned to wind up any slack yarn, said turning being effected by means of a suitable hand wheel 102 upon the short cross shaft 103 having a bevel gear 104 meshing with a similar bevel gear 105 upon the right end of said shaft 101. One of said holders,.herein the right hand holder 96, is supported for sliding movement transof coil spring 106 (Fig. 4) thus permittin the ready insertion or withdrawal of a spoo Whena spool is about to be inserted in said holders 95 and 96 of the tubing machine 'the transfer or aligning comb 10 is detached from the spool and 'suflicient length of yarn is unwound from the spool to permit the insertion of said comb 10 into the. grooved comb holder 107, in the manner shown in Figs. 2, 6, 7, 11, 12, 31, 33 and 34. Said comb holder 107 is supported for sliding movement and for this purpose has a bearing at each end in one of the overhanging hearings or arms 48 already described, said comb holder and its groove being of sufficient length to receive and support the comb throughout the entire length thereof.

The details of said sliding comb holder 107 and the manner in which the comb 10 is supported thereby will later be more fully described.

Some spools and particularly long spools 6 may have a tendency to bend-in the center thereof when they are held from turning during the threading operation. To avoid such bending we have shown in Figs. 3 and 25 an intermediate support or bracket 108 which is attached to the under side of the tube frame support 27.

For th purpose of holding in the tubing machine shorter spools than those normally employed we have provided an auxilia spool holder, best seen in Figs. 3, 27 and 28. Said auxiliary spool holder comprises a bracket 109 for holding the left end pf such a short spool. Said bracket 109;which is secured upon and depends from the ,tube frame support 27, carries a latch 111 pivoted thereto at 112 and provided with a transverse slot 110. Said latch 111 is normally held up against a shoulder 113 upon the bracket 109 by means of a spring 144. The left end pintle of a short, spool is inserted in said slot 110, the bottom of the spool. resting upon the bracket 109 as shown in Fig. 28. When an ordinary spool of longer length is positioned in the machine such spool passes across said bracket 109, its left end being supported in the usual spool holder 95. With such a spool the latch 111 is depressed into the position shown in Fig. 27 and lies below the spool as clearly appears in said figure.-

As stated, spools of normal length lie with their left end in the spool holder 95 which, however, is adjustable sideways or transversely of the tubing machine so that spools 26*). i A clamping screw 116 is provided for holding said bracket 97 in the desiredposition-of adjustment. Y

The holders 95 and 96 are also adapted to receive different. diameters of spec] heads and for this purpose each of said spool holders 95, 96 is provided with cup portions of different diameter, as clearly shown at 96 and 96 in Fig. 29. In said fi ure the right .comb 10 is supported in the tubing machine in the groove of the comb holder bar 107 which latter is supported for sliding move ment transversely of the tubing machine in the bearings 48. It is desirable that the yarns lead from the comb in the comb holder 107 as herein shown at right angles or nearly perpendicular to the comb, in order that the needles 60 when moving outward beyond the front needle guide 82 shall pass through the yarn strands correctly.

After the needles have passed forwardly or outwardly through said yarn strands the comb holder bar 107 is given a lateral movement to cause each yarn to be laid in the bight of the adjacent needle. Said lateral. movement is obtained by any suitable mechanism and as shown herein (see particularly Fig. 2) a cam 120 is fixed upon the counter shaft 72 near the right end thereof, the groove of said cam cooperating with a roller 123 carried by a stud 122 at the upper extremity of a lever arm 121. Said lever arm 121 is fixed upon a short vertical shaft 125 supported in a bracket 126 upon the machine frame (see also Fig. 5). Secured to said shaft 125 is a forwardly projecting horizontal arm. 124 carrying an adjustable bar 127 provided with a slot in 'its forward or outer end in which seats a vertical pi-n 128 upon the right end of the comb holder 107 (see Fig. 2).

As the shaft 72 rotates the lever arm 21 is rocked by means of the cam path cut in v cam 120 and cooperating roller 123, and in design or are adjustable relative to the ma chine frame through a bolt and slot connection in accordance with the position of the tube frame.

When the needles 60 are being retracted, which movement takes place ina manner similar to that explained in Patent #1,19l,109, it is desirable to provide a certairvamount of slack in the threads or yarns to permit them to be drawn through the tubes. This is effected by releasing the spool so that it may turn in the spool holders 95, 96 of the tubing machine and may unwind under the draft of the needles to provide the required slack. As shown most clearly in lig.:35 the spool while in the spool holders of the tubing machine is normally locked against unwinding movement by means of'a pawl 130 which engages a ratchet 131 herein attached to the left hand cup-shaped spool holder 95. I

Mechanism is provided, however, whereby said pawl 130 is lifted at the proper time to permit the spool to unwind. Herein for the purpose we have provided an adjustable two-part cam 132 fixed upon the counter shaft 72 *(see particularly Fig. 6). Said cam 132 comprises two parts or discs placed face to face and adjustable circumferentially relatively to each other to vary the effective extent of the raised portion 132' of the cam, thus to vary the length of time during which the pawl 130 is lifted, such variations corresponding to different lengths of tubes 1 in the tube frame.

Cooperating with the cam 132 is a cam roll 134 upon the inner end of a horizontally extending arm 133 loosely supported upon the shaft 75. The forward or outer end of said arm 133 has operative engagement through an adjustable bolt 133' with a downwardly extending arm 130' rigid with said pivoted pawl 130. By turning one part of the cam 132 relatively to the other an adjustment is obtained of the interval of time during which the effective raised portion 132 of said cam holds the cam roll 134 and inner end of the arm 133 down and consequently the outer end of said arm 133'and the awl 130 up.

T e cam 132 moves the lever arm 133 at the proper time to lift the pivoted pawl 130 and maintain the same in lifted position for a sufiicient time to provide the necessary slack of the yarn. Said cam 132 is so positioned on eountershaft72 that the relaxation of the yarns will occur at the desired time and preferably at the time when the "needles 60 retract to a position just within the tubes. The pawl 130 is then lifted, releasing the spool, and the yarns are unwound from the spool by the pull of the needles until said pawl is again dropped into the ratchet 131 when the raised portion 132 of the cam has passed off from the cam roll 134. .The forward or left end of arm 133 is drawn downwardly by a spring 137. thereby permitting the pawl 130 to drop into and hold the ratchet 131. The spool is thus held fixed through said pawl and ratchet mechanism preferably about at the time when the needles emerge rearwardly from the tubes. Said movements, however, may be varied to suit different working conditions.

With some spools it is desirable that they be placed in the spool holders of the tubing machine with the yarns drawn under. The position which would be occupied by yarns so placed is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6. In this instance the pawl and ratchet must hold in the opposite direction, to prevent the spool from turning in a contraclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6. In order to reverse the pawl 130 there is preferably provided a bevel-toothed adjustable steel piece 135 for engaging the ratchet with its straight face.

, In the position shown in Fig. 35 said tooth or piece 135 prevents the ratchet and spool from turning in a contraclockwise direction,

viewing Fig. 35, and in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6. Theratchet and spool is free to turn, however, in the opposite di-.

rection if it is desired to turn the spool through the hand wheel 102 (Fig. 5). Said bevel-toothed steel piece 135 is held near the end of pawl 130 by means of a set screw 136 which may be loosened to permit said piece 135 to be reversed or turned through 180 so that its straight face will engage the opposite side of the teeth of theratchet, thus reversing the holding effect of pawl 130 and preventing the ratchet and spool from turnmg in the opposite or contraclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 6, as is desired when the spools are positioned in the tubing machine with the yarns drawn under.

Prior to use in the loom it is necessary to cut the drawn-in yarns evenly at a fixed predetermined distance from the ends of the tubes. Herein shearing means is provided whereby this is accomplished automatically and during the second step of the threading o eration, as previously mentioned, that is,

a ter the spool has been removed from the spool holders 95, 96 of the tubing machine and placed in its supports upon the tube frame 2. Said shearing means includes a vertically movable knife 53 carried by a knife support bar 89 to which it is fastened by screws or otherwise and a cooperating stationary knife 54 secured upon the inner side face of the tube frame support 27 (see Figs. 6, 23, 24, and 37).

The yarn strands when drawn back by the needles lie directly over the upper edge of said stationary knife 54 and in that po sition are cut off by the downward movement of said vertically movable knife 53. Said movable knife 53 has an inclined edge,

54.. Said movable knife 53 carries at its I left hand end, as viewed in Fig. 1", a depending cam member 140, best seen in Fig. 23,

said cam member 140 having a lower beveled edge. The knife blades are so arranged that the movable knife 53 when in normal or elevated position lies with its forward edge somewhat over the edge of the stationary knife 54. p

\Vhen said movable knife 53 is depressed the said cam member 140 first engages the stationary blade 54 thereby to cause the movable blade 53 to be wedged over. The knife support bar 89 and the blade 53 carried thereby are for this purpose supported for pivotal movement upon horizontal pivots at each end of said bar 89. Thus as each sue ceeding portion of the blade edges cross a shearing action is effected through the.

pressing over or twisting of the upper and movable blade 53, thereby giving in effect the action of a pair of shears and lmparting nalled in blocks 144 fixedly secured as by bolts 144 upon vertically reciprocable plunger rods 145, one at each side of'the machine (see also Fig. 6). Said support bar 89 is normally held with its right hand portion (as viewed in Figs. 23 and 24) down and resting against a suitable stop 145 upon the plunger rod 145. A spring 142 is provided for so holding the bar 89, said spring being attached at its upper end. to a rearwardly projecting lug 89' upon said support. bar 89 and at its lower end to a stud 145 fixed to the plunger rod 145.

To impart suitable and properly timed movement to the vertically movable blade 53 and the transverse support bar 89 carrying the same the plunger rods 145, one at each end of said bar, 89, are guided for sliding movement in upper and lower brackets 146, 147 respectively, attached to the frame members 30 and arch 36. One side of each of said plunger rods 145, and herein the front, is toothed to form a rack 148 each of which engages with a pinion 149 (see Figs. 3 and 4) said pi'nions being secured to the shaft 65 which carries the main driving gear 66 and the needle operating gear 64. Said gears are so timed that as the needles are retracted rearwardly out of the path of the shearing mechanism the movable knife 53 descends from the position shown in Fig. 37 to that shown in Fig. 6 and trims the ends of the drawn-in yarns.

\Vhen the needles are again advanced said upper knife 53 is lifted up and out of their path. As best seen in l lg. (i. a deflect ng plate 150 is secured upon the machine frame and beneath the shearing mechanism to guide the ends of the yarn sheared off so that they may fall through an opening 151 out in the base 151 of the tubing machine and the table 151" and into a drawer, basket, or other suitable receptacle, not shown.

In practice it is not only necessary that the projecting ends ofthe drawn- 1n yarns shall be trimmed, but such trimming must be exceedingly exact and even and at the required distance from the ends of the tubes. This is essential in order that the tube frame when withdrawn from the tubing machine or when shifted to thread the next succeeding spool may have the yarns cut the requi-red length and held fixed in this relation on the spool, thus being ready for the loom without the need of any further step or operation. To insure even shearing, means is preferably rovided so that before shearing and prefierably during the shearing operation the ends of the yarn strands are held clamped and also the tube frame itself held securely in position.

' For so clamping the yarn strands during the shearing operation clamping or holding means is provided between the small or inner ends of the tubes 1 and the shearing mechanism. Such clamping means may beembodied in various forms but herein we have provided a clamping or holding bar 152 extending transversely across the tubing machine and carried by the shearing mechanism in such manner that when the needles are advanced said clamping or holding bar 152 is elevated with the movable knife 53 and out of the way. As the needles are retracted, however, and the movable shearing blade 53 descends said clamping bar 152 is brought down across the drawn-in yarn ends, thus clamping them tightly againstthe fiat top surfaceof the support 27 and the adjacent fiat upper surface of the stationary knife 54. This is also the position for starting the tubing machine.

Referring more particularly to the detailed construction of said clamping or holding bar 152, as best seen in Fig. 6, said bar is fixedly secured to the slotted lower ends of two or more vertical plunger pins 153 distributed transversely of the tubing machine and along the knife support bar 89. Each of said plunger pins 153 is provided with a coil spring 154 compressed against the overhanging arms 155 fixed upon said knife supporting bar 89 and acting to depress the clamping or holding bar 152 to its lowermost or clamping position. Each of said pins 153 carries a collar 156 which has abutting contact with the upper face of its support arm 155- thereb to limit downward movement of the holding bar 152.

On depression of the shearing blade 53 and its supporting bar 89 said holding bar 152 clamps the drawn-in yarns just prior to the shearing cut subsequent depression of the blade 53 resulting merely in compressing to a greater or less degree the coil springs 154. Said holding or clamping bar 152 may be of any suitable material and shape but preferably andherein it is formed of a metal strip or plate having a lower rounded edge.

In order that the yarns may be released from the holding bar 152 to permit the withdrawal of the tube frame carrying the threaded spools from the tubing machine, or to permit shifting of the tube frame, while still having the needles retracted and the shearing blades depressed, means is provided whereby said clamping or holding bar 152 may be independently lifted to release the yarns without moving the main operating mechanism or lifting the shearing blade Herein such release is effected simultaneously with the releasing movement of the tube clamp 44 (see particularly Figs. 6 and 37). For this purpose each of said collars 156 upon the plunger pins 153 is provided with a forwardly extending finger 157 which overlies the tube clamp 44 as shown in Fig. 6 so that when the latter is moved upwardly by the handles 45 the upper side of said tube clamp 44 will engage an adjustable screw 158 carried by said finger 157 thereby to lift the holding bar'152 against the compression of the springs 154. The yarn ends are thus free to, be withdrawn from the machine with the spool and the tube frame.

In operation and as has been already pointed out, the tubing machine is stopped when the needles have retreated to the position shown in Fig. 37. The operator at that time removes the spool from its holders 95, 96 in the tubing machine, winds up the slack vyarn thereon and then applies the spool to ,the supports in the tube frame.

If the spool occupies an intermediate position on the tube frame one of its pintles, herein that at the right end of the spool, is engaged with the clutch-like portion on the face of the adjacent spool previously threaded and placed in the tube frame. The spool then occupies the position shown in Fig. 31. A clamp 50' (Figs. 15 and 16) is attached to prevent the spool from turning and the operator then again starts the machine to perform the second step of the threading operation. The needles begin to retract and tighten the yarn, the spool being prevented from turning by said clamp 50 and the yarns are withdrawn from the eyes of the needles as said needles retract further. Then the yarn clamping or holding bar 152 above 

